Waiting for NLNG to act responsibly, By Yemi Adebowale
It is almost six weeks since the Senate directed the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited to pay N18.4 billion compensation to 73 host communities and 200 families in Bonny, Rivers State, within two months, for acquiring their land and for the loss of the affected land to their pipelines’ Right of Way. It is so sad that nothing concrete has happened in this direction, six weeks after the directives. The Senate gave the instruction after adopting the report of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions that investigated a petition from the communities calling for compensation.
It is a shame that the NLNG acquired landed properties in 1989, spanning over 210 kilometres for use as its pipelines Right of Way which ended at its export terminal in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area for a meagre N73 million. That was all the NLNG paid 39 of the affected 73 communities and 73 individuals/families of the over 200 families whose hitherto agrarian sources of livelihood were negatively impacted by the acquisition. Of course, some powerful Nigerians in government connived with the NLNG for the rip off.
The Senate thoroughly investigated the petition before endorsing the N18.4 billion compensation demanded by the traumatised communities. The NLNG is being told to act responsibly by paying the N18.4 billion compensation to these hapless Nigerians. That is the meaning of the Senate’s directives. But I doubt if this will ever happen. The NLNG, in a statement issued a day after the Senate’s directives, simply said it was evaluating the resolution and circumstances surrounding it.
The recalcitrant gas company adds: “NLNG wishes to state that it has always conducted its business responsibly and in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including in this specific matter.”
This firm is obviously non-committal and showed so much arrogance in its response. So, my suggestion to the affected communities is that they should get lawyers to file a suit against the NLNG. This is the only language companies like this one understand. I am also challenging our human rights warriors to rise and fight for these devastated Bonny communities.
First published in Thisday Newspaper on Saturday
